A façade remodel project was recently completed at 430 N. Rose. The applicant did a comprehensive “facelift” of the dated-looking property which included new, low-water landscaping, paint, stacked stone accents and signage. Additionally, the applicant repaved and striped the parking lot at his own expense. The applicant received a façade grant award of $20,000 (the maximum for which he was eligible based on his building’s street frontage) and invested a total of $43,771. The project improves the safety and appearance of a well-traveled intersection near bicycle and pedestrian access to the Escondido Creek Trail.

Attached is the 2015 soccer and softball tournament dates. There are a total of 31 major tournaments planned for 2015. Most of these dates have been confirmed and permits have been approved. On the Softball side of things we will have around 20 more independent smaller adult softball tournaments, which are not posted on the attached list.

We project around 90,000 visitors to Escondido from outside the area for the 31 major tournaments

Hotels are required for majority of the 31 major tournaments

Around $2,000,000 is projected to be spent from the 90,000 visitors. (Factor $12 per day per visitor. Most tournaments are two days)

V&L Xmas Trees is in the process of obtaining a Temporary Use Permit (and other related permits required by the Planning Department) and an Occupancy License for use of the City’s property located at 509 West 2nd/201 S. Pine, commonly known as the former “Lopez Market” property. The use will also extend onto a third privately owned contiguous vacant parcel. V&L Xmas Trees will display for retail live Christmas trees between November 15, 2014 and December 31, 2014. The rent of $2500 will be deposited into the Housing Successor Agency fund, less the License Processing Fee of $350.00, which will go into the City’s General Fund.

SPECIAL EVENTS

No special events this weekend.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Planning:

County Health & Human Services is pursuing a Short Term Acute Residential Treatment (START) facility at 600-620 E. Valley Parkway. The project involves demolition of all 3 existing county buildings and construction of a crisis mental health facility of about 6,500 SF with 14 beds for clients (up to 9-day stay) and 15 employees including a psychiatrist for management of medication. The program includes integrated mental health and alcohol and drug counseling services. Current uses will move to the County’s new Mission Avenue site. The START facility on EVP would only need about 0.5 ac and the rest of the site would be sold if no other public agency needed it. The County has issued a draft MND which is under review by staff. Tentative Board of Supervisor’s date to authorize advertising and bid process for a design/build firm, and certify the MND is 12/2/14. The County intends to apply for a CUP through the City for the proposed use.

Emmanuel Faith Church at 639 E. 17th Avenue has submitted a modification to their CUP to renovate and improve their facilities. The project includes expansion of the worship center from 1,600 to 2,000 seats and construction of a new youth complex and new children’s center with a preschool for 200 children.

Major Projects Update:

Oak Creek (NUW) – The consultant continues to prepare draft responses to comments on the Draft EIR; due to the number of comments received, the anticipated submittal date has been extended several weeks, with public hearings anticipated at the beginning of next year. Fire Code issues appear to be resolved through redesign of the driveways, unit mix and brush clearing areas.

Centerpointe 78 Commercial – The applicant has requested that the preparation of the Draft EIR be put on hold pending resolution of traffic mitigation requirements for direct impacts attributable to the project. At issue is the need for additional right-of-way and improvements along the Broadway frontage, and associated need to relocate underground utility vaults and a 69 KV pole on Broadway, as well as the existing traffic signals in the CalTrans ROW. The applicant is coordinating with Caltrans and staff regarding the design of necessary improvements.

North Broadway Deficiency Area Projects – The Pickering annexation application has been submitted to LAFCO. The application for the Zenner annexation and 40-unit subdivision remains incomplete. Outstanding issues affecting completion of the CEQA analysis include resolution of mitigation measures and associated design of offsite traffic improvements (specifically regarding the IOD and improvements for the Vista/Ash intersection), storm water and drainage improvements, offsite sewer improvements, waterline sizing , and development agreement terms.

Zak Planned Development – The applicant’s engineer is refining the design of the storm water and drainage improvement and continues to coordinate with staff regarding compliance with other conditions in anticipation of City Council consideration of the Final Map in January. No revised plans have been submitted to Building in response to Esgil comments following the second plan check review which were forwarded to the applicant on 9-9-14.

Code Enforcement:

Code enforcement staff continues to focus proactive efforts on enforcement of the campaign sign ordinance. Since the start of the campaign season on 10/4/14, officers have spent 195.5 staff hours (equivalent to 21.6 full 9 hour days) and removed over 3,135 campaign signs from public property and right-of-ways, primarily along major corridors. Tuesday was the busiest by far with 655 signs removed by three teams, Bill and myself. Officers will be out again tomorrow to make sure the city is clean after the election.

Building Division:

The Monthly Building Activity Report for October is attached.

Building had another busy week issuing 52 permits for the week with a total valuation of $320,858. Most of the permits issued were photovoltaic, tenant improvements, room addition and miscellaneous type permits.

Inspections and counter contacts have increased with average daily inspections of 27 with 17 on Friday and average daily counter contacts of 28 with 23 on Friday.

Photovoltaic permits are again dominating the permit activity for the week with 24 permits issued and 14 more in for plan review. Building has issued 639 photovoltaic permits this year compared to 356 issued at the same time last year.

Construction activity continues at the Chick-Fil-A at 1290 Auto Parkway.

Construction activity and inspections are continuing at the Monticello assisted living facilities at 930 Monticello Dr.

The Habitat for Humanity project at 537 N Elm St is progressing through construction and inspections for duplex buildings 1, 2 and 3.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

2013/2014 Street Maintenance Project:The contractor is completing punch list items and the additional striping work that was requested has started .

Maple Street Pedestrian Plaza Modifications:The work on the compass rose has been completed and the contractor is now working on the drainage and concrete splash pad for the fountain.

Private Development

County Project :The contractor is installing the 24” water line. The contractor is performing clean up from this past weekend rain.

Bear Valley Parkway Widening between Boyle Avenue and San Pasqual Valley Road:Electronic message boards are in place (located at the north and south of the project limit) warning of a construction speed limit of 30 MPH. Please be cautious when driving in the area.

Habitat for Humanity:On site work is completed. The water main and sewer main will be connected to the City system with the Elm Street improvements.

Church of the Resurrection:Work should be completed this week for the remaining street repair and sidewalk improvements along Sheridan.

The Chief, Captain Stuard and the Gang Unit held a very successful community meeting at Felicita School on Thursday. The topic was gang activity and enforcement.

The Chief attended the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Florida.

Fire:

The Fire Department is on high alert for this Wednesday and Thursday due to the weather forecast. Santa Ana winds are predicted to move into the region early Wednesday morning and last through Thursday evening. SDG&E will be moving one of the helicopters to the Olivenhain Reservoir during the high danger days. We are also expecting Cal Fire to bring resources into to the region from Northern California to further increase our readiness.

Three new Non-Safety Paramedics completed their week long EMS academy last Friday. They are Silas Spencer, Ian Creen, and Eric Konzen. The three will be riding and training as the third person on the ambulance during their mentorship this month. It probably will not be too long before you see them attending a City Council meeting which is one of their probationary requirements.

Escondido and San Marcos Fire Departments participated in their annual Multi-Casualty Incident (MCI) drill this week. Our fire and EMS personnel participate in a MCI drill each year to review their triage and treatment skills. This year, FF/PM Scott Lofvendahl took the lead and made the drill extraordinary. NCTD provided a bus to make the scenario real life and somewhat confining. In addition to the help from NCTD, students from Palomar College’s fire technology program participated as patients. The students were adorned with mock injuries (moulage) to make their wounds realistic. We also had dispatchers from our Communications Center and nurses from Palomar Hospital participate; dispatching the calls and nurses provided medical direction as MICNs. It was a great drill and the extra effort by the instructors was much appreciated. There will be one last MCI drill on Monday, November 24th at FS#1. The pictures show our Fire and EMS personnel approaching and securing the exterior of the bus, personnel performing triage on the patients inside the bus, and finally the patients being treated and transported from the incident.

The Rincon Water District has hired Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. (RFC) to conduct a Cost for Services Study (COSS) for the Rincon Del Diablo Fire Protection District. As you know the Rincon Fire District is protected and served by the Escondido Fire Department. RFC will be working closely with our Fire Department and other City Departments to determine the costs associated with providing fire and EMS responses to the County areas served by Rincon. Once all of the costs are determined, RFC will provide a fiscal impact analysis and report for review. Finally, RFC will provide three separate presentations on their findings; one to the Rincon subcommittee, one to the Rincon Board of Directors, and one to the City Council. The presentations should occur sometime in March or April 2015.